With former US President Barack Obama set to attend Donald Trump’s inauguration alone, many have been wondering which property wife Michelle will stay holed up in throughout the historic event.
The couple, with four stunning homes to their name, have built a property empire worth $27million during their 32-year-long marriage.
The former first family still reside in Washington DC, in a stunning $8.1million mansion located in the Kalorama section of the capital.
The Obamas, estimated to be worth $70million, have been putting the finishing touches to a beachfront compound on the island of Oahu that includes two swimming pools – a fitting addition to a property empire that includes the mansion in Washington and a home in Chicago.
After Obama left office in 2017, the couple also picked up a property in the idyllic Martha’s Vineyard, a Massachusetts island.
The sprawling estate is the most expensive in the Obama’s empire at $12million, and is where she is believed to currently be staying after skipping a state funeral for Jimmy Carter in Washington last week.
The former first lady also confirmed she will not attend the presidential inauguration on Monday, amid swirling and unconfirmed rumors the pair could be heading for divorce.
There has been no official explanation for Michelle’s absence, sparking speculation online that there might be some other explanation as to why she’s not appearing alongside her husband, and staying six-hours away from the US capital in the couple’s $8.7million Hawaiian mansion.
The couple, with four stunning homes to their name, have built a property empire worth $27million during their 32-year-long marriage
The former president and his wife tied the knot at the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago on October 3, 1992
Jimmy Kimmel presented Jennifer Anniston with a magazine which made allegations about her and the former President in 2007
Jennifer said she met Obama once at a party. Pictured: Jennifer Aniston is seen with Michelle Obama at a Hollywood fundraiser for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in 2007
Martha’s Vineyard
In 2020, the Obama’s put down permanent roots on the $12million mansion on Martha’s Vineyard, an island located between Slough Cove and Turkeyland Cove, Edgartown, Massachusetts.
The sprawling property, which sits on almost 30 acres of pristine land, offers the power couple a private retreat in a spot popular with politicians and celebrities.
The enormous estate features seven-bedrooms and nine bathrooms inside the 7000sqft main residence.
Outside the main house, there is 29 beachfront acres, a pool, chef’s kitchen, outdoor fireplace, and two guest wings.
The posh property also features a half-basketball court, large screened porch and outdoor terraces.
Additionally, the estate includes a two-car garage, a detached barn, and a boathouse.
Perhaps most notably, the Obamas enjoy private beach access with deeded rights, allowing them to embrace the island lifestyle fully.
The couple purchased the sprawling estate from Boston Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck who had the property on the market for four years, first listing it in 2015 for $22.5million.
The Obamas were no strangers to the island – and were regulars long before the former president was in office.
Their younger daughter, Sasha, even worked briefly one summer at one of their favorite spots, Nancy’s Restaurant & Snack Bar in Oak Bluffs.
The family typically spent 10 days to two weeks at a rented beachfront compound, usually on the island’s more secluded western edge in the town of Chilmark.
They former first family was often spotted riding bikes and venturing into town for ice cream and New England fare before they purchased the property.
But the island was facing a housing shortage that got so severe it was ‘threatening public safety’ for its residents last summer.
Staggering seasonal rents – averaging nearly $1,000 a night – were forcing regular workers, including restaurant, store employees, doctors, correctional officers and 911 dispatchers, to flee their jobs on Martha’s Vineyard, during a lack of affordable housing, officials said.
The estate features seven-bedrooms and nine bathrooms inside the 7000sqft main residence
Outside the main house, there’s 29 beachfront acres, a pool (pictured), chef’s kitchen, outdoor fireplace, and two guest wings
The home features two fire places, and is white throughout and is surrounded by emerald-green lawns
As well as the modern family kitchen (pictured) the homes also features a chef’s kitchen
Grousbeck had the property on the market for four years, first listing it in 2015 for $22.5 million
A map showing the location of the Martha’s Vineyard estate in the state of Massachusetts
Hawaii
The Obamas purchased an enormous Hawaiian estate, nestled in the Native Hawaiian community of Waimanalo,on the island of Oahu, back in 2015 for $8.7million.
The property sits on three acres of beachfront land and was landscaped in 2022.
But environmentalists were not happy with the Obamas’ construction project and allegedly found a loophole in the law to keep a seawall on the property.
The Hawaiian property was planned to become the primary home to the former president after his retirement.
In a recent report from the Enquirer, it was claimed Michelle would stand by her husband until his presidency ended when he would move back to Hawaii and she would stay in Washington.
Yet, more than a decade later, they’re still together – albeit she’s the one in Hawaii.
After skipping a state funeral for Jimmy Carter in Washington last week, Michelle has confirmed that she will not attend the presidential inauguration on Monday, leaving her husband to face the fanfare alone again.
A spokesman gave no reason for her absence, after explaining that she was unable to appear for Carter’s funeral because of a scheduling conflict.
It has since emerged that Michelle was on holiday in Hawaii without her husband.
In 2022, images of the former president showed him scowling as he spoke with workers who were constructing the beachfront compound.
Obama had his arms crossed the entire time the group were discussing the next steps in building the massive compound, while at one point he appeared to be gesturing as he pointed out things that presumably needed to be addressed.
Construction had been mired in controversy because the project used a planning loophole to retain a sea wall that was almost certainly causing beach erosion.
The developers ultimately built three homes on the site including two swimming pools and a security fence on the three-acre parcel of beachfront land.
The Obama’s purchased the Hawaiian estate, nestled in the Native Hawaiian community of Waimanalo, back in 2015 for $8.7million
Obama used planning loopholes to bypass coastal protection laws and build a huge multi-million dollar beachfront compound in Hawaii
The Hawaiian property was planned to become the primary home to the former president after his retirement
Washington
Following Obama’s exit from the White House, the former president and former first lady purchased a 8,200-square-foot mansion located in the Kalorama section of the capital after buying the property for $8.1million.
The former first family remained in the DC home while their daughter, Sasha, completed her high school at Sidwell Friends.
After Obama left office on January 20, 2017, he and his family took up residence at the home which belonged at the time to Joe Lockhart, a former press secretary in the Clinton administration.
The home features separate dressing rooms and his and her bathrooms, entertaining space, and a tranquil garden.
It was built in 1928 and features eight bedrooms and nine-and-a-half bathrooms.
A spokesperson for the former president said at the time the decision to buy the home was an easy one to make.
‘Given that President and Mrs Obama will be in Washington for at least another two and a half years, it made sense for them to buy a home rather than continuing to rent property,’ the spokesman, Kevin Lewis, said in a statement.
The $8.1million purchase was the second largest for a home in Kalorama, according to a report from the Post at the time.
The former first family remained in the DC home while their daughter, Sasha, completed her high school at Sidwell Friends
Following Obama’s exit from the White House, the former president and former first lady purchased a 8,200-square-foot mansion located in the Kalorama section of the capital
The home cost a staggering $8.1million
It was built in 1928 and features eight bedrooms and nine-and-a-half bathrooms
Chicago
In 2005, just as Barack’s political career was on the rise with his election into the Illinois State Senate, the Obamas paid $1.65 million for a mansion in Chicago’s Kenwood neighborhood.
The home features six bedrooms and six bathrooms spread across 6,243 square feet.
The house is heavily guarded, and not much is known about the interior spaces.
The Obamas still own this property, which is often visited by tourists, though it’s likely they haven’t spent much time there since Obama was elected into the White House in 2008.
The home features six bedrooms and six bathrooms spread across 6,243 square feet
